News Releases 2012

LETU Engineering Teams Compete in IEEE Programming Competition

Mon, Apr 30 2012

Two teams of LeTourneau University engineering students competed in a 24-hour global IEEE Xtreme 5.0 computer programming competition organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. IEEE is the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology.

LETU’s first team, Team Quifobes, ranked 3rd in the region among 30 teams, 22nd in the nation among 227 teams and 93rd in the world among 1,515 teams. Team members are Daniel Rothfus, a freshman computer science engineering major from Kijabe, Kenya; Micah Shennum, a sophomore computer science network security major from Ventura, Calif.; and Joseph Wallace, senior computer science game development and network security major from Colonial Beach, Va.

Team JazzPants ranked 5th in the region among 30 teams, 43rd in the nation among 227 teams, and 149th in the world among 1,515 teams. Team members are Jonathan Sculley, a junior electrical engineering major of Norcross, Ga.; Peter Sculley, a senior electrical engineering major also from Norcross, Ga.; and Matthieu Larson, a senior electrical engineering major from Castle Rock, Colo.

“Our two teams did great job and well ahead of other teams from big name schools such as UCLA, Georgia Tech, Iowa State and the University of Washington,” said LETU engineering dean Dr. Ron DeLap.

In the 24-hour computer programming competition, 1,515 teams totaling more than 4,000 students from 63 countries competed. The competition presents teams with a number of unique programming challenges designed to test their skills program design and analysis. Some of the skills tested include analyzing task requirements, identifying the appropriate solution, and testing the program to ensure that it meets all the problem requirements. Teams could have from one to three people and were required to work independently of each other.

IEEE has more than 395,000 members in more than 160 countries and more than 90,000 student members. It sponsors more than 1,100 conferences in 73 countries annually.

LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christ-centered university located in Longview, Texas, offering academic majors in aviation, business, criminal justice, education, engineering, health science-nursing, human services, liberal arts, science and psychology. LeTourneau University also offers graduate degrees in business administration, counseling, education, engineering, psychology and strategic leadership. In addition to its residential campus in Longview, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs online and at educational centers in Athens, Austin, Baytown, Bedford, Dallas, Harlingen, Houston, and Tyler.